Production of carbon and hydrogen chloride



Dec. 20, 1932. R. M. WINTER 1,891,859

PRODUCTION OF CARBON AND HYDROGEN CHLORIDE Filed May 28. 1929 11 Q j PUMP) l l 13 i 1 01:

FILTER.

4 CHLORINE I 1 HYDROCARBON CA5 IN Patented Dec. 20, 1932 UNITED STATES RAMSAY MIDDLETON WINTER, OF NORTON-ON-TEIES,

ENGLAND, assreivon T0 (1M- FFICE I COMPANY PRODUCTION OF CAP-aBfilil AND EL'YDROGEN CHLORIDE Application filed May 28, 192-2, Serial No. 336,724, and in Great Britain June 9, 1928.

It is known that gaseous hydrocarbons such as methane, ethylene or acetylene may react with chlorine to give, among other products, carbon and hydrogen chloride, whether a mixture of the reactant gases be exploded or whether one of the gases be caused to burn in the other. This invention consists in the production of carbon and hydrogen chloride from hydrocarbon-containing gases or vapours, such as coal distillation gases, natural gas, cracking still gas, vaporised hydrocarbons and the like by causing the gases to combine in a flame burning in an atmosphere of air.

According to one form of the invention chlorine is burned in an envelope of hydrocarbon-containing gas surrounded by air, so that the outer surface of said envelope burns in air.

A suitable form of burner consists of two concentric tubes.

Chlorine is introduced through the central tube and hydrocarbon-containing gas through the annulus. The gases are ignited and the flame exposed to the air. In the interior of the flame chlorine combines with the hydrocarbons, and free hydrogen if this is present, and on the outside of the mantle partial oxidation takes place. The products of combination are collected from the gases by any suitable method.

Alternatively a burner may be used consisting of a number of concentric tubes, chlorine and hydrocarbon being supplied through alternate annuli and the outer envelope of hydrocarbon gas burning in air.

According to another form of the invention the gaseous reactants are mixed to form a combustible, inflammable or explosive mixture (but at a temperature below the ignition temperature of the mixture) and the said mixture is caused to burn in a controlled and continuous manner.

The mixture may be led through a tube at a velocity greater than that of back-firing and the gases ignited at the orifice. A device similar to a Bunsen burner may be used, chlorine for example being passed through the central jet and the hydrocarbon gas required to support the combustion entering through lateral openings. The gases issuing I from the mouth of the burner are ignited and are found to burn in a steady manner without causing soc-ting up or" the burner. The atmosphere around the flame may consist of reaction products together with excess of chlorine or of hydrocarbon vapours (preferably the latter if excess of one reactant is used at all), but preferably the flame is exposed to the air and the combustion prod acts are collected by drawing them together with air into a collecting chamber. The access of air to the flame may be controlled by suitable means, such as shields or the like. The initial gas mixture may contain,

a little air or oxygen. A suitable form of burner is illustrated in the attached diagram. Chlorine and hydrocarbon gas are supplied to a mixing chamber 1, which is packed with material 2 such as pieces of earthen-;.

ware, by tubes 3 and 4 respectively. The

mixed gases, which now form an explosive mixture, issue by the tube 5 and are ignlted at the orifice thereof, the flame being exposed to the air. The flame consists of a highly;

luminous interior 6 and an outer mantle 7 The carbon ascends in the product of combustion as a smoke 8. The combustion proclucts are collected by a hood 11, and the soot and gases pass into a filter 12. Here the- Example 1 270 litres of coal gas containing 27.2% of methane and 41.7% of hydrogen were burned in a concentric shell burner with 210 litres of chlorine gas volumes being measured at 15 C. and 760 mm. 420 litres of gaseous carbon is deposited and removed through hydrochloric acid were produced, together with 20 grams of carbon black. After heating for 3 hours at 100 C. in air or other inert gas the black had the following charac- E mam-file 2 300 litres of coal gas at 15 C. and 760 mm, having the composition: methane 25.2%, hydrogen 45.6%, nitrogen 14.6%, carbon monoxide 8.6%, ethylene 2.6%, carbon dioxide 2.0%, oxygen 1.4% were mixed with 280 litres of chlorine at 15 C. and 760 mm. in the apparatus hereinbefore described, and the mixture was ignited and allowed toburn at the open jet. 26 grams of carbon black were isolated from the products of combustion, and the hydrogen chloride formed was absorbed in Water to give 2.36 kilograms of 36 er cent. hydrochloric acid.

After heating at a temperature of 100- 110 C. in air, or in an inert atmosphere, for a period of 3 hours, the carbon black had the following characteristics Ash 0.06% Moisture Nil Extractable matter 1.4% Acidity (as HCl) 0.05%

Example 3 210 litres of natural gas at 15 C. and 7 60 mm. composed of 92 per cent. methane and 8 per cent. hydrogen were mixed with 370 litres of chlorine at 15C. and 760 mm. and the mixture was burnt as in Example 1. 65 grams of carbon black were obtained and 4.0dkilograms of 28 per cent. hydrochloric acl I declare that what I claim is:-

1. A process for the joint production of hydrogen chloride and carbon from hydrocarbon containing gas and chlorine which comprises causing the gases to combine in a flame burning in an atmosphere of air.

2. A process for the joint production of hydrogen chloride and carbon which comprises mixing chlorine and a hydrocarbon containing gas to form a combustible mixture, at a temperature below the ignition temperature, and causing the said mixture to burn in air.

3. A process for the joint production of hydrogen chloride and carbon which comprises mixing chlorine and a hydrocarbon containing gas to form a combustible mixture, at atemperature below the ignition temperature, leading the said gas mixture through a tube at a high velocity, igniting said mixture at an orifice and causing same to burn in air.

4. A process for the joint production of hydrogen chloride and carbon which comprises mixing chlorine and a hydrocarboncontaining gas in a mixing chamber, to form a combustible mixture, at a temperature below the ignition temperature, and causing the said gas mixture to burn outside said chamber in air.

5. A process for the joint production of hydrogen chloride and carbon which comprises mixing chlorine and a hydrocarboncontaining gas to form a combustible mixture, at a temperature below the ignition temperature, and causing the said mixture to burn in a regulated supply of air.

6. A process for the joint production of hydrogen chloride and carbon which comprises burning chlorine in an envelope of hydrocarbon containing gas, which is burning in a regulated supply of air.

7 A. process for the joint production of hydrogen chloride and carbon which comprises injecting a stream of chlorine into a stream of hydrocarbon containing gas, at a temperature below the ignition temperature, passing the mixed gases along a tube and causing said mixture to burn in regulated supply of air.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name this 14th day of May 1929.

RAMSAY MIDDLETON WINTER. 

